Fire-extinguisher



R. C. IDDINGS. FIRE EXTINGUISHER. APPLICATION FILED APR. Io, I9I9.

Patentd Sept. 6, 1921.

` INVENTOR.

7 ATTO EI/s.

ROSCOE C. IDDINGS, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

FIRE-EXTENGUISHER.

To all whom t may concern:

e it known that l, Roscon C. IDDINGS, residing at Dayton, Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire- Extinguishers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

y present invention is an improvement over the device shown in my pending application, Serial No. 148,309, and has for its principal object to render devices of this class more reliable and certain to operate properly in an emergency. Fire extinguishers are essentially emergency devices, which, being rarely used are liable to be found unt for use when neededand to obviate this as far as possible it is important to adopt every available expedient whereby deterioration in any form may be prevented, and that such deterioration as can not be prevented may be rendered innocuous. In construction my present invention resembles the one shown in the above mentioned application, among other things in that it has a pump with which to store air under pressure in the receiver and has valves or seals that close the outlets and prevent escape of the air or the extinguishing fluid; also in that these valves are operated by rotary motion of the pump piston, the same movement operating locking mechanism which holds the piston in its inner position also in that by a partial turn of the piston in either direction a steady stream of fluid, expelled by the compressed air, may be played upon the fire without actuating the pump, and without turning the iston enough to unlock it. In the present evice l employ metal-to-metal valves or seals where in the former one I used cork or some other suitable non-metallic substance 'as one element in the seals, and have improved the locking device for the piston.

ther improvements, which will be referred to later, not only contribute to the stability of the device .but improve its appearance and, what is quite important, reduce the manufacturing cost.

Referring now to the accompanying draw- Figure l is a transverse sectional view of an extinguisher embodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental view showing certain portions of the pump and valve mechanism in different positions than they :occupy in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental view showing op- Specication of Letters Patent.

p Patented Sept. 6, i921.

io, 191e. serian No. 288,933.

eration of the automatic check valve by rotary movement of the pump piston;

Figs. 4 and 5 are two views of a locking` member for preventing reciprocal movement of the pump` piston;

Figs. 6 and 7 are views of a guide for `the piston rod;

Fig. 8 is a fragmental view showing a modification of the valve mechanism;

Figs. 9 and l0 are diagrammatic views for showing the timing of the valve mechanism.

lVithin the container 25 is placed a pump comprising a cylinder 26, piston 27, piston rod 28 and handle 29 for operating the pump. At its inner end the rod carries a collar 30, whose inner edge is beveled and adapted to coperate with a valve seat 31 formed in a casting 32 secured to the end of the cylinder, and form aclosure or seal for the pump cylinder. The collar is held in Contact with the seat by yielding pressure obtained with the following mechanism:

he outer end of the pump cylinder is secured in a lange 35 which projects from the end piece of the container. A guide 36 slips loosely in the end of the cylinder and has a flange 37 which extends laterally and bears on the ends of the cylinder and flange 35. The outside of the flange is threaded to receive a cap 38; this cap has an aperture 39 in its head through which the piston rod passes, but which is considerably larger in diameter than the rod; the edge the extinguisher, even though it be exposed to the elements, as it would be, for example, on the dash of a motor truck. Within the cap 38 isa lock` ture 39, whereby it is guided. Its inner end has a flange 43 that extends out to the wall of the cap 38 and acts as a second guide for the member 42. A compression spring if confined between this flange and the head of the cap 38 presses the member 42 toward 36. The interior diameter of the king member is large enough to accommodate a pin 45 which passes through the piston rod, and in addition to a circular aperture in the head, through which the piston rod passes there are two radiating recesses 46 for the passage of 44the pin 45 when the piston rod is vdrawn out. of the head rising from each side of each of these recesses is a spiral cam 47, which cams terminate at notches 48. When the piston rod is in its innermost position it may be rotated in either direction, and when this is done the sides of the pin 45 impinge on two of the cams, according to which way the piston is rotated, and cam the locking member outward in opposition to the spring 4 4;

when the ends of the pin 45 arrive opposite the notches 48 the spring presses the locking member inward until the notches bear against the pin, and by this means a frictional lock is formed which is capable of resisting quite a substantial force tendingwhile allowing the hanto turn the handle, dle to be turned in either direction when it becomes necessary to do so. It valso affords an indication, through the sense of touch, of the position of certain internal parts.. .This point will be enlarged upon presently. The tension of the spring, acting through the locking member and pin, presses the piston rod inward' and holds the beveled face of the collar 30 against the seat 31. In Fig. 1 the piston rod is represented as having been unlocked but not yet withdrawn any, the collar 30 still being on the seat. In Fig. 2 the piston has been withdrawn and is on its in-stroke. The locking member is kept from turning on the cylinder by a tongue l49 on each side of the flange 43, which extend into slots 50 formed in the united flange 35 and cylinder 26. Corresponding notches 51 are cut in the guide member 36.

The contents of the container is expelled the other of two flexible valve 63, tube 64 and a nozzle4 65. By means of a gravity. operated valve mechanism, which is described in'detail in my application above mentioned, the tube 60 that is uppermost is cut off from the discharge passages, so that if its open end is above the level of the contents of the container air will not escape to the nozzle. The plug 66 of the valve 63 has a flat extension 67, which is embraced by the tines of a bifurcated extension 68 on the collar 30 when the piston rod is in its inner position as in Fig."1. By means of this coupling the valve may be opened and closed by turning the handle 29. The parts are so timed that the valve 63 is open when the piston rod is turned to a position where it can be drawn out; when the rod is turned to locking position, with the pin 45 in the notches 48, the valve is closed and when the operato-r feels the pin fall into the notchesl he knows the valve is closed. When the piston is drawn out the collar is uncoupled from the plug, but the parts are On the inside other direction ,side of the leather.

.leather washer so proportioned that the pin enters the recesses 46 lin the locking member before the fork 68 reaches the extension 67 and by this means registration of the fork with the extension is insured, so that coupling the collar to the valve cannot present any diiiiculty.'

The pump is providedwith the usual automatic check valve which comprises a conical valve seat 75, formed in the casting 32, and a spring actuated valve member 76 operating in a chamber 77. T o guard against the possibility that the valve might have become stuck from long inaction, corrosion or other causes, I provide means for lifting the valve from its seat as the handle 29 is turned to unlock the piston. This consists of a pin 78, one end of which is adapted to bear against the valve member 76, the other end extending into the cylinder so as to be in the path of the corners of the extension '68. Referring to Fig. 3 .it will be seen how as the handle is rotated it engages the pin and ca ins it outward, the pin in turn lifting the valve from its seat momentarily. In Fig. 3 the handle is assumed to be approximately midway between the position it occupies in Fig. 1 and the position it would occupy when locked. Should the ,valve have become stuck from any cause this will free it so that when the pump is operated it will act properly. In Fig. 2 the piston is assumed to be moving inwardand therefore driving air past the check valve, which is consequently open.

The piston 27 is mounted on the rod with suiicient freedom so the rod can move endwise therein, this lost motion being limited in one direction by the collar 30 and in the is provided with theusual leather cup 86, which is kept pressed `against the wall of the cylinder by a helical spring 87 coiled in- When the rod is movin outward the piston, being retarded by friction in the cylinder, collar 30; longitudinal grooves 88 in the bore of the piston and radiating grooves 89 on the end that bears against the collar 30, act as ports and allow air to pass the piston as it is drawn outward. of the handle, friction, supplemented by compressed air5in the cylinder, again retardsv the piston and presses it against a 90 that is interposed between it and the collar 85, which efectually closes the ports 88. By this means a very durable pump is provided and the possibility of the cup leather shrinking and failing to hold the pressure is eliminated by the spring 87, while the ports allow free passage of air past the piston on its idle stroke, making it easy to operate and eliminating the tendenc to create a vacuum in the cylinder.

o operate my by a collar '85. The pistonbears against the On the return extinguisher it is only nec- I `of th recense essary to unlock and operate the piston. As it can be unlocked by turning in either direction there is no danger of delay through the operator becoming confused as to' which way to turn the handle. Huid is discharged by air which has been compressed in the container itis likely to continue running after pumping ceases. stop the stream then it is only necessary to h the piston clear in and turn it to locked position. 0r the operator can stop the stream by placing his ringer over the A very satisfactory way of using the device is to keep a charge of compressed air in the container, ready to expel the contents as soon as the handle is turned. It is not necessary to turn the handle to full unlocked position, as the area of the valve 63 is such as to adord an adequate passage with the valve but little if any more than half open. Operated in this way the collar 30 is kept seated and the seal of the cylinder is eiiectually maintained. It is to be noted that this seal is supplemental to the check valve, thus aiording double security.

In F ig. 8 I show a modilied structure, wherein the plug valve is made double, so as to control the discharge and also seal the cylinder. In this structure the plug 95 has, in addition to the port for passage of the tluid another port, 96, for admitting air from the cylinder to the check valve chamber 77. In Figs. 9 and l() I illustrate the timing of the valve ports to show how the discharge valve can be opened and the iiuid discharged Without opening the aii'valve. In F ig. 9 the iiuid port is in a position to allow iiuid to iiow from the tube 62 to tube 63, while the air port, shown in-F ig. l0, is not open. In this figure it will be seen that midway between the ports, on each side of the plug 95, there is a depression 97. When the valve is shut oil that is, when the piston is locked in, the spindle 98 of the check valve rests in one of these depressions. When the valve is turned by turning the handle the sides of these recesses en gage the conical end of the spindle and cam the valve out, unseating it momentarily. When the valve reaches its open position the end e spindle projects into the port 95,

function normally. described the preferred embodiment of my invention, and also one modification thereof, I do not wish it understood that the invention is limited to the structures shown, as other modifications may be made within the scope of my claims. hat I claim as novel is as follows:

l. In a fire extinguisher, a pump having a valve seat in the end of the cylinder, a valve member carried by the piston and adapted to coperate with said seat to close the end of the cylinder, and means for yieldingly holding said member on said; seat,

allowing the valve to aving shown and As the b comprising: a stud projecting laterally from the piston rod, a cam which is engaged and displaced by said stud when the piston is rotated in the cylinder, and a. spring wherey the cam is enabled to offer yielding resistance to said displacement.

2. In a re extinguisher, a container having a discharge tube, a plug valve therein,

a pump having a valve seat in the end of the cylinder, a valve member carried by the piston and adapted to coperate with said seat and close the end of the cylinder, means for pressing the piston toward the end of the cylinder so as to keep said valve member on said seat, said meansremaining effective while the piston is rotated a limited distance, and means whereby when the cylinder is thus closed the piston is coupled to the plug of said plug valve, so that the valve can be opened' or closed by turning the piston.

3. In a I'ire extinguisher, a container having a discharge tube, a plug valve therein, a pump having a valve seat in the end of the cylinder, a valve member carried by the piston and adapted to coperatewith said seat and close the en d of the cylinder, means for pressing the piston toward the end of the cylinder so as to keep said valve member on said seat, said means remaining effective while the' piston is rotated a limited distance. means whereby when the cylinder is thus closed the piston is coupled to the plug of said plug valve, so that the valve can be opened or closed by turning the piston, and means for preventing withdrawal of the piston from or its return to the coupling position except when it is in a predetermined angular position.

4. In a fire extinguisher, a liquid container having a discharge nozzle, a pump comprising a cylinder and a reciprocal piston, locking means for locking the pistou at a given end of the cylinder when the apparatus is not being used, a rotary valvel for preventing discharge of liquid through said'nozzle, said valve being located adjacent the end lof the pump cylinder at which the piston resides when locked, and means for rotating said valve by rotary motion of the piston when the piston is in said position of disuse.

5. In a fire extinguisher, a liquid container having a discharge nozzle, a pump comprising a cylinder, a piston rod with an operating handle at one end and a piston at the other, a rotary valve adjacent the end of the cylinder which is remote from said handle, and in axial alinement with the cylinder, and means for coupling the piston to the valve when the piston is at the end ot' its inward stroke, so the valve can be rotated by rotary motion of the piston.

6. In a fire extinguisher, pump, a valvel having a revoluble element a reciprocating 4 v1,390,0.azs

whose axis coincides with that of the pump; ated by the same movement ofthe piston coupling means whereby when the piston whereby the plug valve is actuated. reaches its inner position it is coupled to 10. In a ire extinguisher, a container, said element, so that said element can be means, comprising a reciprocating pump, rotated by turning the piston, and means for for discharging the contents from the conreventing withdrawal of the piston from tainer, and means for locking the 4piston of or its return to the coupling position except the pump to prevent its reciprocal movewhen it is in a predetermined angular poment, comprising: a cap secured to the end sition. of the cylinder, a member within the cap 7. In a fire extinguisher, a reciprocating provided with spiral cams, a in inserted pump, a valve having a revoluble element crosswise in -the piston rod, tie sides of whose axis coincides with that of the pump; which pin engage the cams when the piston coupling means whereby when the piston rod is rotated and move said member toward reaches its inner position it is coupled to the cap, a spring confined between the cap said element so that said element can be and said member adapted to yieldingly rerotated by turning the piston, means for sist said movement by( the member, sai preventing Withdrawal of the piston from member having notches which said cams or its return to the coupling position except lead to, into which the pin drops and wherewhen it is in a predetermined angular posiby longitudinal movement by the piston is tion, and means for retaining the piston in prevented and rotary movement considera position which prevents its withdrawal, ablyro posed. v

said means being adapted to yield to a sub- 11. n a lire extinguisher, a liquid constantial force but offering enough resistance tainer, a pump therein, said pump compristo prevent accidental movement of the lng a cylinder, a piston and a casting that piston. forms a head for the cylinder, said casting 8. In a fire extinguisher, a reciprocating having an extension which is bored for and pump having -an automatic check valve, conta-ms a rotary valve, said valve being in means for positively opening said valve and axial alinement with the cylinder; a disthen allowlng it to'close itself before startcharge tube leading from one side and a ingto operate the pump, and means for insup ly tube leading to the opposite side of suring that the valve lwill be thus treated sai extension, said valve being adapted to before operation of the pump is begun. connect said tubes or cut 0E communication 9. In a re extinguisher, a container havbetween them; and means for rotating the ing a discharge tube, a plug valve in said valve by rotary motion of the pump piston. tube whereby the discharge may be cut oi In testimony whereof I aix my signature and controlled, a reciprocating pump havin the presence of two subscribing wltnesses ing van automatic check valve, means-,for turning the plug valve on or oi by rotary ROSCOE C IDDINGS movement of the pump piston, and means' Witnesses:

for positively opening said check valve and WALTER J. BLENKO, allowing it to close, sa'd means being 'actu- H. M. LINARD. 

